Blog / Investing in the Future
When spring makes an appearance on the Shepherds College® campus, few things feel more satisfying than soaking up the warm morning sun after a long Wisconsin winter. The birds are cheerfully chirping, and the horticulture staff and students are out in the garden, thrilled to be preparing the soil to plant.
Every so often during this season, winds sweep across the flat farmland with incredible force. In the past, Shepherds College has lost shingles, siding, and hoop house plastic due to these winds.
How do mere humans combat the forces of nature?
In our horticulture department, we use nature to balance nature.
This past spring, we acquired 75 Norway Spruce through a local tree program—seventy-five little seedlings with established but bare roots needing to be planted as quickly as possible. One way to complete this enormous task on time was by coming together and working as a team. This massive undertaking was perfect for first-year, second-year, and third-year students to learn from each other. They scouted out the location for the trees and unified to dig holes, mix soil with compost, and re-purpose potting soil before backfilling around the bare roots of each tree.
Once matured, the trees will serve as a windbreak for the garden on the west side of campus and the outlying buildings. Their placement will help to shelter student residential housing, Olson and Glanville Halls, from the afternoon heat of the sun in summer and the arctic winds of winter. The tree line will also capture any drift from nearby farm fields should fertilizer or pesticides be applied, keeping this from affecting students and staff. Horticulture When students arrive at Shepherds, many people have already contributed to their journey - parents, relatives, teachers, doctors, IEP teams, therapists, and, possibly, employers. During this special project, all three classes of students worked together to contribute to the success of each other.
It was beautiful watching the teams work side by side! The first-year students were like the little saplings we planted, just getting their roots established. The second-year students showed us how quick growth can happen when those roots are nurtured in an ideal environment. Third-year students are well on their way to realizing their potential and maturing.
Norway Pines were chosen for their ability to grow in the type of soil we have on campus. Their branches are resilient and can bear the weight of heavy winter snow without breaking. These trees can grow 2-3 feet a year and begin to provide shelter from the winds within a few short years. They are much like our students who have faced difficult environments, relational challenges, and the weight of disappointment yet continue to stand and see victories for their endurance.
Over the next three years, students will support the trees as they establish strong roots by assisting staff in watering them during dry stretches, keeping the area weeded so they aren’t competing for nutrients, and mulching.
Nineteen growing students and five staff worked together to get the pines planted and complete the installation. Their contribution ensured shelter for Shepherds College for many years to come.
Published in Volume 6, Issue 2 of SOAR Magazine.